Liset Alea

Liset Alea
Background information
Also known as	Alea Lissette Alea Lissette Gonzalez-Alea
Born	Havana, Cuba
Genres	Pop, electronic, trip hop, drum and bass, New Wave, Bossa nova
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, bass
Years active	1998–current
Labels	EMI, Kwaidan
Associated acts	Nouvelle Vague Etro Anime Alexkid Honeythieves Dubphonic Olga Kouklaki Yasmine Hamdan

Liset Alea is a Cuban-American singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist who lives in Paris, best known as a solo artist and lead singer in Nouvelle Vague.

Career

Early collaborations and solo work

In 1998, Alea co-founded drum & bass/trip hop band Etro Anime. She co-wrote all the songs and provided lead vocals on their 2003 album See the Sound.^[1] Soon after, she left the band to pursue a solo career. Her debut LP, No Sleep, was released in multiple European territories on EMI in 2005,^[2] and was on the Top 40 charts in the Netherlands for 15 weeks.^[3] Around that time, she also began writing songs for other artists, including “Catfight,” a single from Belgium’s Star Academy winner Katerine’s 2005 debut.^[4] She later co-wrote “Il Futuro Che Sara” for Chiara Galiazzo, which was in competition at the 2013 Sanremo Music Festival in Italy.^[5]

While residing in Paris, Alea began collaborating with French DJ Alexkid, appearing on his 2003 album Mint. Their single “Come With Me,” was featured that year in an episode of Las Vegas, and has been remixed by numerous artists, including Llorca, Brett Johnson and Tiga.^[6] In 2009, Alea, Alexkid and French producer/DJ Rodriguez Jr formed the Honeythieves.^[1] The trio’s song “Reminder” was in 2009 episodes of Entourage and 90210,^[1] and was remixed by RAC’s Andre Anjos.^[7]

In 2010, Alea independently wrote and co-produced a Spanish-language album, Sin Cera.^[1] It has not been released.

Nouvelle Vague

In 2008, Alea met Marc Collin, the founder of bossa nova blues punk band Nouvelle Vague. She opened for the group in Miami, and officially joined them as a lead singer in 2009.^[1] She shares lead singing duties with Mélanie Pain,^[8] appearing with them on tour.^[9]

Performances and collaborations

“Ceremony,” a multimedia “costume show turned concert” created and directed by French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, was based on Nouvelle Vague’s repertoire. Alea participated in all live performances of the musical, including presentations of the show at the 2011 digital arts festival Exit at the MAC Creteil art center in Los Angeles,^[10] and at the 2012 White Nights Festival in Tel Aviv.^[11]

Alea has been singled out for her unique style and presence, and for “providing a strong, sultry voice and some amazing vocal pyrotechnics.”^[9] She has toured the world with Nouvelle Vague, including North America,^[10] Europe,^[9] Russia^[1] and South Africa.^[8] She has done a European tour with Alexkid in support of the release of Mint, a tour supporting Sananda Maitreya (formerly known as Terence Trent D’Arby), and performed with Raul Paz.^[12] She shared the stage with Juanes at the 2009 Paz Sin Fronteras concert in Cuba, performing to an audience of 1.2 million people.^[12]

Personal life

Alea was born in Havana, Cuba.^[1] She was raised in Miami, Florida, and has lived in New York, Costa Rica, Paris, London and Amsterdam.^[1][12]

Discography

Solo

• No Sleep (2005, EMI)
• Sin Cera (2010, unreleased)

Appears on

• Etro Anime – See the Sound (2003)
• Alexkid – Mint (2003)
• Alexkid – Caracol (2006)
• Dubphonic – Relight (2009)
• Olga Kouklaki – I U Need (2012)

TV/film soundtrack appearances

• Las Vegas – “Come With Me” (with Alexkid) (2003, Season 1, Episode 9)
• Six Feet Under – “Don’t Hide It” (with Alexkid) (2005, Season 5, Episode 59)
• Entourage – “Reminder” (with Honeythieves) (2009, Season 6, Episode 11)
• 90210 – “Reminder (RAC Remix)” (with Honeythieves ) (2009, Season 2, Episode 3)
• Holy Rollers – “If You Forget Me” (with Remix Artist Collective) (2010)

Co-writer

• “Catfight” – recorded by Katerine, on Katerine (2005)
• “Stelle Appiccicate” – recorded by Noemi, on Noemi (2009)
• “Il Futuro Che Sara” – recorded by Chiara Galiazzo, on Un Posto Nel Mondo (2013)

References